PUBLISHED 05/10/2007
Retrocalcaneal Bursitis is sometimes mistaken for Achilles tendinitis. Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa sac, a fluid-filled cushion between bones and overlying muscles and tendons. This particular sac sits right where the Achilles attaches to the heel bone. Tight calf muscles, consistently running on hard surfaces, and jumps in mileage can all lead to bursitis.
Seeing a pattern? Yes, for these issues, the root is usually the same: too much, too soon. But if you've trained by the book and haven't broken any injury-prevention rules, it would be worth seeing a sports-medicine specialist. You could be wearing the wrong shoe for your foot type; you may have biomechanical problems that could be corrected with an insert or orthotic; you may have a weakness or imbalance that could be improved with specific strengthening and stretching exercises (see pages 82-83 for a start). In the meantime, icing the sore areas, cutting your mileage, and incorporating more cross-training into your routine will help you begin the road to recovery.
